CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new children's residential home near Chepstow will go before Monmouthshire council's Planning committee tomorrow.

Care UK has submitted a planning application to Monmouthshire council to turn a large detached home at Brookacre, Earlswood, near Chepstow, in to a residential children's home for up to four youngsters aged between 10 and 16.

If given the go-ahead, the home would provide medium to long term child care placements for young people with a need for “higher than normal levels of supervision”.

The new home would create seven full time jobs, with at least two members of staff on site at all times working a 48 hour shift pattern.

Planning officers have recommended the plans for approval, but the council has received a number of objections to the application including a recommendation of refusal from Shirenewton Community Council, and more than 30 objections from local residents.

Thirty-three objections were received from 24 households raising concerns including personal security, poor public transport facilities near the property, and worries that children with severe social problems could become bored and cause problems with vandalism and antisocial behaviour in the neighbourhood.

Shirenewton Community Council said the building did not have adequate space to entertain children, and that the perceived fears of the public should be taken into account by the planning committee.

The committee will meet tomorrow to make a decision on the proposals.